Defense contractor Brent Wilkes didn't just bribe former Rep. Duke Cunningham [1] with gifts [2] and prostitutes [3]. He courted then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay [4] like nobody's business.

Wilkes, who has been implicated in arranging for prostitutes for Cunningham as well as bribing the former congressman, has a series of connections to former Majority Leader Tom DeLay that should make us all wonder. He "leased a jet and took [DeLay] to three states on a golfing vacation [5]." They went from "Torrey Pines to Bighorn Country Club in Palm Desert to the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades [6]" on the three-day tour, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Wilkes also flew DeLay to a fundraiser in Sin City for Rep. John Doolitte [7], where DeLay was the chief attraction. Doolittle is assumed to be under investigation for both his connections to Jack Abramoff and Wilkes. Why Las Vegas for a fundraiser featuring a congressman from Texas and benefiting a congressman from Sacramento? Las Vegas "is a place that our target audience, namely these $5,000 donors, would like to go [8]," commented Doolittle to the Sacramento Bee.

And then there's the money. Lots. Wilkes or companies under his control gave [9] $45,000 to ARMPAC (DeLay's federal political action committee), $15,000 to TRMPAC (DeLay's state political action committee, for which he allegedly laundered money), and $10,000 DeLay's Foundation for Kids [10].

Inquiring minds want to know more.

[Thanks to reader B for the tips.]